Presentation of the books: "Cambio climático, biodiversidad y sistemas agroalimentarios" and "Cuencas hidrográficas"

Quito, lunes 13 julio 2020
The book: Cambio Climático, biodiversidad y sistemas agroalimentarios
The book: Cambio Climático, biodiversidad y sistemas agroalimentarios

 

The university's branch campus in Quito presented two books: "Cambio climático, biodiversidad y sistemas agroalimentarios. Avances y retos a diez años de la Ley Orgánica del Régimen de la Soberanía Alimentaria en Ecuador" and "Cuencas Hidrográficas", research conducted by environmental engineering professors and the environmental sciences research group. 

The first book is about the debate of agricultural models that standardize production systems, food consumption and family, indigenous and community agriculture. The book was coordinated by Esteban Daza, Tamara Artacker and Ronnie Lizano. 

UPS professor Ronnie Lizano explained that agricultural modernity has generated a crisis and contamination of water, soil, land spoils and extinction of vegetable varieties worldwide. We also question the change in the country's production system. "Basically it has been dispossession of land for the beneficiary of large capitals, implemented an agro-business strategy; there are no public policies in favor of farmers and despite the law there is no conception of the agrarian system in Ecuador which values and sees the great potential of family, indigenous and community farming"

Artacker, researcher at the Instituto de Estudios Ecuatorianos y del Observatorio del Cambio Rural (Institute of Ecuadorian Studies and the Observatory of Rural Change), pointed out that food sovereignty is a concept driven by the historical struggle of people. The comments on the book were made by Manuel Suquilanda. He stated that "an equitable redistribution of land, water and markets is necessary; that plans and training programs be established and that they merge scientific and modern advances with ancestral knowledge and that they be implemented at a national level for the production of bio-inputs."

They also presented the documentary "Food sovereignty in the middle of the world", produced by the organization "Minga por la Pachamama", by Marcelo Aizaga and Eliana Estrella, UPS graduates.

The book "Cuencas Hidrográficas", coordinated by professor Miguel Araque, presents a comprehensive study of hydrology in hydrographic basins, moors in terms of water quality in the basins and atmospheric conditions from a bibliographic compilation and from teaching experience at UPS.

César Álvarez, spoke about the importance of water care in a changing world that seeks new directions and new methodologies to coexist between environment and human beings. Edwin Arias, professor, highlighted that the book shows the socio-environmental interest with examples of Ecuadorian soil studies.

In her speech, Karina Pazmiño, director of the Environmental Engineering undergraduate program, indicated that these topics are important for students of Environmental and Civil Engineering, since they allow us to learn about hydrology, the water cycle, environmental management of hydrographic basins, very high importance considering that we live in a country with two large mountain systems.

For UPS president Father Javier Herrán, "research is not to be placed on a shelf, nor to receive awards or medals, but to improve the quality of life of the environment and those around us. It is a project that commits us to the common house of Pope Francis ".